Born at 3.30pm on 09/04/1893 at 42 Gellatly Street Dundee. His parents were Peter Lindsay (Born in 1857) and
Catherine Lyons Thoms (born on 07/02/1864), They were married on 03/12/1884.
William had 5 brothers, James Thoms (born on 02/03/1888), Peter (21/12/1890-08/06/1915), George Tindal (17/04/1895-17/04/1916), Andrew Thoms (born on 18/05/1896) and John Mollinson (born on 09/03/1899).
He also had 2 sisters, Betsy Chalmers (born on 27/02/1886) and Jane Watt (born on 05/08/1889).
In the 1901(Scottish)Census the family were recorded as living at 22 Court Street, Dundee. Peter was employed as a lightship keeper.
On 30/10/1914, William married Georgina Dickson( born on 25/07/1894).
William enlisted in Dundee as Private 3876 in the 7th(Fife)Battalion(Territorial) The Black Watch(Royal Highlanders). He was sent to France on 03/05/1915 and was wounded in battle only 6 days later.
Dundee Courier - Monday 24 May 1915
SECOND OF FOUR SONS TO BE WOUNDED
MEN WITH TEARS IN THEIR EYES
Private William Lindsay, 27 Ellen Street is the second of four brothers to be wounded.
He joined the second line of the 4th Black Watch shortly after the New Year and went to France only three weeks ago. Writing from Montpelier Hospital Ealing to his sister, he says: - “I suppose you have heard I have been wounded. I got it on the 9th at Neuve Chapelle. I was struck in the back and also twice in the leg. The two wounds in the leg are nothing; they only left marks. The one in the back was a piece of shrapnel. It went right in, but I have got it out now, so it is not so bad. It is a good job it did not touch the spine or else I would have been done for life. We had an awful day when I got wounded. Half of the men were going round with tears in their eyes. I will never forget the sight all my life.”
Private Lindsay who is 22 years of age, was in the goods department of the Caledonian Railway Company. Private Peter Lindsay
a brother who is in 5th Black Watch was wounded in the leg in February but has now re-joined his battalion.
James is a bugler in the 9th Argyll and Sutherlands, while George is a Private in H.L.I.
When William was fit to return to his unit, his regimental number changed to 6805.
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Dundee Courier – Tuesday 22 June 1915
Peculiar Death of Private
When he leaves trench for water.
Death came to Private Peter Lindsay. A member of the 5th Black Watch in a peculiar way. His wife who lives at 4 Cotton Road was informed in a letter from a chaplain that her husband had been feeling faint and he crawled out of the trench to get some water. As he did not return a party went out in search and they found lying dead by the side of a small stream. He is supposed to have succumbed while in a fainting fit.
Deceased was 24 years of age and is survived by a wife and two young children, one of whom is but three months old. He was a porter in the goods department of the Caledonian Railway prior to enlistment when war was declared. In January he was slightly wounded and though sent to hospital, he returned straight to the trenches.
Peter is buried in ESTAIRES COMMUNAL CEMETERY AND EXTENSION France. Plot - III.F.9.
Dundee People’s Journal – Saturday 29 April 1916
Lindsay – Killed on 17th inst., Private George Lindsay, H.L.I. son of Peter Lindsay Abertay Lightship and No.2 Court Street.
We little thought when we parted last.
He would no more return:
Now he lies in a soldiers grave,
And we are left to mourn.
Inserted by his sister Betsey.
George Lindsay – Private 5233 18th Battalion (4th Glasgow) Highland Light Infantry.
Killed in action 17/04/1916 – Gunshot Wound to the head.
Buried in ST. VAAST POST MILITARY CEMETERY, RICHEBOURG-L'AVOUE Pas de Calais. Plot III.C.5
Dundee Courier Wednesday 22 November 1916
Dundee Family’s Great Loss
Three Brothers Killed and One Gassed
Private William Lindsay, Black Watch intimation of whose death has just been received, is the third brother to give up his life in the war.
Mrs Lindsay, 27 North Ellen Street, Dundee received the sad news yesterday of her husband’s death. An officer, in a sympathetic letter, stated that Private Lindsay was engaged carrying up ammunition to the firing-line, when he and another two comrades were killed by a German shell.
Deceased who was 23 years of age was prior to enlistment a checker in the goods department of the Caledonian Railway. He joined in February 1915 and was wounded in the back on the 9th of May following.
He re-joined his battalion in February last.
His brother, Private Peter Lindsay, Black Watch was killed in June of last year, while George a Private in the Royal Scots, fell in action in April last. Private James Lindsay, Argyll and Sutherlands, was gassed about the beginning of May 1915.
The People’s Journal – Saturday November 17, 1917
In Memoriam
Lindsay- In loving memory of our dear brothers, Pte. William Lindsay, who was killed in action on 13th Nov. 1916;
also Pte. George Lindsay who was killed in action on the 17th April 1916; also Pte. Peter Lindsay accidently drowned in France
on 8th June 1915, sons of Peter Lindsay , 2 Court St.
There is a link that death cannot sever-
Love and remembrance lasts for ever
-
Inserted by their sorrowing father and sister Betsey.
Farewell, dearest brothers we will never forget thee,
The bonds which unite us for ever to you;
In weal or woe we will cling to thy memory,
Like the ivy entwined yon tall elm tree.
-
Inserted by their sorrowing brother James B.E.F. France
We played together as brothers do,
Now I’ll never see them more,
For they’re laid to rest in heroes’ graves,
Far from their native shore.
Inserted by their sorrowing brother Andrew, Salonika Forces
Sleep on , dear brothers and take thy rest,
I would not disturb thy slumbers;
The love that bound us here on earth
Shall never be torn asunder.
Inserted by their sorrowing sister and brother-in-law Mr and Mrs Ruddiman
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Youngest brother John also enlisted on 23/04/1917 as Private 34449 17th Scottish Rifles(Works) Battalion.
He was called up and posted on 24/04/1917.
Details from his medical are as follows;
Apparent age 18 years 30 days
Height 4ft 9 ½ inches
Chest Expansion when girth fully expanded 31 inches
Range of expansion – 2 inches
Eyes – Blue, Hair – light brown
Distinctive features –lineal scar on right breast, large scar left side and lineal scar on left eyebrow.
John was discharged on 05/09/1917 due to chronic catarrhal middle ear(Right). Not caused by active service.
He was awarded the Silver War badge.
Williams wife, Georgina was awarded a pension on 31/05/1917 of 13/9 from 04/06/1917. This ended when she remarried on 18/01/1918 to Robert Ernest Douglas(born in 1892).
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William was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the 1914-1918 British War and Allied Victory medals.